From geomagnetic storms to total solar eclipses, keen astronomers and stargazers have enjoyed a big 2024 in the sky. 

If you got into space attractions last year, don’t worry, there is plenty in store for 2025. 

You can expect to see a spectacular meteor shower and heightened solar activity. 

There will be several eclipses too, although they won’t be visible from the Southern Hemisphere. 

So, here’s what Australians can expect to see in the sky this year. 

Perihelion

Astronomer from the University of Southern Queensland Jonti Horner says the first event of note will be the perihelion on January 4. 

A perihelion is the point in an orbit where a planet or comet is closest to the sun. 

In the first week of January, two weeks after the December solstice, the Earth is the nearest to the Sun. 

This happens because the Earth orbits the Sun in an elliptical path, which means there is one point on the path closest to the Sun and one point where it is the farthest. 

While technically this marks the moment the Sun appears larger in the sky than any other time in the year, the difference is around 3 per cent.

“The exact time Earth will be closest to the sun will be 11.28pm AEST on the 4th,” Professor Horner said. 

It will be 147.1 million kilometres from the Sun at that time.”

Eta Aquariid 

There are two major meteor showers Australians can get a view of this year. 

The Eta Aquariid shower is visible during May every year as the Earth moves through the dust and gas left by Halley’s Comet. 

It will happen between May 5 and 6.

It’s one of the best meteor showers seen from the Southern Hemisphere, Professor Horner said. 

“Best time to look fragments of Halley’s comet — they’re visible in morning before sunrises and the best time is for about a week centred on the 6th of May.”

“It’s well worth getting up before sunrise and having your morning coffee and watching to the east.

“They can be quite spectacular and bright meteors.”

Halley’s Comet is one of the few comets that can be seen with the naked eye from Earth. 

It last appeared in 1986 and will next appear in mid-2061.

Geminid meteor shower

The Geminid meteor shower for 2025 will be even better than 2024’s, said Professor Horner. 

The Geminid meteor shower peaks during mid-December each year and is considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers, according to NASA. 

It will take place between December 13 and December 14. 

In 2025 it will be even easier to spot as it won’t coincide with a bright full moon like it did in 2024. 

Total lunar eclipse

This is your best chance to see an eclipse this year if you are in Australia. 

On September 8, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. 

“It will be in the early hours of the morning, with the peak eclipse on the morning of the 8th before dawn,” Professor Horner said. 

“That’s a really good total lunar eclipse — it’s a blood moon.” 

The next one won’t be until March 2026. 

Three chances to see a supermoon

Later in the year, there will be three supermoons that are set to dazzle photographers. 

They are predicted to fall on September 7 (Harvest Moon), October 8 (Hunter’s Moon), November 4 (Diva Moon). 

Supermoons occur when the full moon or new moon occurs near the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, its perigee.

Supermoons are often given a nickname, like the Harvest Moon, to refer to the certain time of year in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Will Saturn’s rings disappear?

If you have a telescope, Saturn’s rings are a spectacular sight. 

But if you want to get a final look in for the foreseeable future, you’d better do it before March. 

Currently, Saturn is clearly visible in the evening sky. 

But, as the planet orbits into an edge-on position, they will essentially become invisible to people on Earth. 

This happens because the planet rotates on an axis tilted by 26.7 degrees, the view of its rings from Earth changes over time. 

It happens every 13-15 years and they will become fully edge-on on around March 23. 

They will reappear later in the year, but will disappear again in November when they appear at their narrowest.

Will I see an aurora this year?

There is a chance you could see another aurora australis in 2025 because the Sun is still in a phase called solar maximum. 

Solar maximum is the period when solar activity is highest and sun spots are most abundant.

Generally, the more sunspot activity there is, the higher the chances of an aurora occurring.

This week, Australians in Southern states were able to catch a glimpse of an aurora australis. 

The strength and positioning of the storm meant it could be seen in southern Western Australia and New South Wales, as well as across South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. 

Solar maximum is expected to peak in July. 

“It can always happen but probably not quite as good as what we saw in 2024,” Professor Horner said. 

“The most likely time to get aurorae is around the equinoxes,” Professor Horner said. 

“March/April and September/October, but they can and do happen all through the year, and also all through the solar cycle. 

“It’s just that you’re more likely to get significant aurorae around solar maximum.”